Off roading and bed stiffeners

I've read a bunch about bed stiffeners. I plan to use my truck for mild/moderate off-roading. We like to camp dispersed, and some of the "trails" to get to our camping spots are pretty hairy. Plenty of washouts, mud pits, and off-camber situations. I go slow, and there will be some very twisty situations. My concern is the frame flexing and warping my bed out of shape. But I also don't want to drill into my new truck if I don't need to.

We do this at least a few times per year. I'm not planning on a bed rack or RTT.

So, what kind of off-roading do you do, and do you use bed stiffeners or not?

Since this applies to 2nd and 3rd gen, I'm posting in general discussion.

 

I have them only cuz I got a killer deal on them. I off road my truck pretty hard. I don’t think you’ll need them if you don’t plan on putting a RTT or bed rack. It’s to prevent the bedsides from spreading and tearing from weight, I read even people that have them with a rack still have tore their bed sides.

 

if no rack or rtt I think you good. I have them because I have a shell and it tightens the bed

 

I put the TC bed braces on because I run a TracRac and load the shit out of it. (Thanks to our wonderful short beds that can't hold a 2x4 without a red flag out the ass). No off roading abuse but I definitely like having the bed and tailgate lined up and straight when I'm not working.

 

I have these on my 2010 Crewmax 4x4. I bought this truck used. There are signs this truck has been used off road a lot and carried some loads on the bed. Some small cracks are present on the corners of the bed, next to the tailgate. This is most likely caused by combination of off road and heavy loads on the bed. Uneven terrain flexes the rear frame and with a heavy load on the bed, frame will flex even more cracking the corners.

But I bought the truck anyways, cause I know the 4x4 system is well used and working. This was 2017.

Ride will feel stiffer when installed as they are preventing the frame from twisting or flexing.

 

I have half a mind to just box the frame in fully. I’m going to redo the suspension anyway